Higashi Chaya District (Kanazawa City) (map A1)

TRADITION

Atraditional culturethat is still very much alive

Ishikawa Noh Theater (Kanazawa City) (map A4)

Tea Ceremony

Nishi Chaya District (Kanazawa City) (map A2)

Nomura-ke House in Naga-machi District (Kanazawa City) (map D4)

In Ishikawa Prefecture, traditional Japanese culture is still very much a partof daily life; it is a defining characteristic of the people who live there.

The origin of this strong culture dates back to the Edo period, when the Maeda
clan, who ruled the area, used their wealth to promote culture and education.
In particular, Kanazawa, which is the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, flourishedas one of Japan's greatest castle towns. Fine arts such as tea ceremony, Noh play,music and dance became very popular, and crafts of lacquerware, ceramic ware,dyeing, gold leaf also developed as indispensable elements of interior decoration,implements and clothing.
The love of culture has been passed down to this day, and people take classes
in cultural activities of daily life such as the tea ceremony and flower arranging,as well as traditional performing arts such as Noh plays and Japanese musicand dance. There are still Chaya districts (former amusement areas) that haveretained their Edo-period atmosphere, and many old shrines and temples, which
fascinate visitors.

Kazue-machi Chaya District (Kanazawa City) (map A3)
Wagashi (Japanese Sweets),
an essential item for the tea ceremony

Geisha Girl in a Chaya DistrictAflourishingcontemporary cultureIshikawa Prefecture has not only preserved its traditional culture but the prefecture also has a progressive spiritthat is conducive to the introduction of new ideas. A friendly competition between the old and the new produces

a creative energy, fostering Ishikawa’s rich cultural landscape.
The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, which opened in 2004, is one example of this culturalrichness. The circular, glass-walled building that houses the museum can be said to be a work of art in itself, and its
collection of modern and contemporary works from both Japan and abroad attracts a great deal of attention. The
museum has been featured in magazines such as Newsweek and Beaux Arts.
In this "kingdom of traditional crafts", there is an increasing number of artists working with glass and other newmedia. Also, along with traditional Japanese music such as koto, nagauta, subayashi and shamisen, Western music isalso very popular. In 2008, Kanazawa became the seventh city in the world to hold the La Folle Journée event, andthere is an annual jazz festival that attracts a huge audience.

Tsuzumi-mon Gate (Kanazawa City) (map B2)

Notojima Glass Art Museum (Nanao City) (map B3)

MODERNITY

1 2
21st Century Museum ofContemporary Art, Kanazawa (map B1)

3

Commissioned work
(21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa)1. The Man Who Measures the Clouds, Jan FABRE
2. The Swimming Pool, Leandro ERLICH
3. People’s Gallery 09.10.04-21.03.05, Michael LIN

D.T. Suzuki Museum (kanazawa City)(map B5) ©D.T. Suzuki MuseumOrchestra Ensemble Kanazawa (Ishikawa Ongakudo Hall) (map B4)

Kutaniyaki Museum of Art (Kaga City) (map C1)

Sushi

W

ith 36 crafts that include lacquerware, ceramicware, dyed silk and metalwork, Ishikawa

Prefecture ranks with Kyoto as a Mecca of traditional crafts,
which are characterized by exquisite technique and a refined
sense of beauty. Made using techniques that have been
handed down through the generations, they also reflect theneeds and tastes of the age in which they are made, and thus
have been constantly evolving. Ishikawa has produced many
Ishikawa Prefectural Museum
for Traditional Products and Crafts (Kanazawa City) (map C2)of the best artisans in Japan, and the prefecture has many art
galleries and museums that feature outstanding works.
Ishikawa Prefecture is also known as a "treasure-trove" offood, as it offers an abundance of fresh, tasty ingredients ofall kinds. Elegant Japanese dishes served in Kutani ceramic
ware and Wajima lacquerware are truly a delight for boththe eyes and the palate. You are sure to take home wonderful
memories of the warm welcome you receive. Please enjoy theauthentic flavor of the carefully prepared dishes that Ishikawa
has to offer.

Omi-cho Market (Kanazawa City)(map C3)

Kaga maki-e lacquerware decoration process

Japan's famous Wajima lacquerware

CRAFTSO

utstanding craftsand foodTraditional Kaga cuisine “Jibu-ni” (stewed duck with vegetables)THE FOUR SEASONS

Refreshingseasonal beauty
Ishikawa-mon Gate, Kanazawa Castle (Kanazawa City) (map D1)

Kenroku-en Garden (kanazawa City) (map D2)

Garden of Natadera Temple (Komatsu City) (map D8)

Earthen walls and waterways in the Naga-machi Buke Yashiki District(Kanazawa City) (map D4)

Senmaida Rice Terrace illuminated only in winter ("Aze no Kirameki")(Wajima City) (map F2)

I

shikawa Prefecture has four distinct seasons.
In the spring, the cherry blossoms put ona brilliant display, and Kanazawa Castle andKenrokuen area bustle with people who come toadmire these blossoms. The season of fresh greeneryfollows after the cherry blossoms, and as the summer

Sojiji Temple (Wajima City) (map D6)

heats up, the foliage turns a deeper green.
In the fall, the beautifully colored leaves start
appearing in the mountains and gradually advance
down the slopes. Bright gradations of red, orange andyellow elicit sighs of admiration. Winter brings snow.
The fields, mountains and towns are covered with abeautiful, peaceful blanket of white.
Shirayama Hime Shrine (Hakusan City) (map D7)

Kenroku-en Garden, one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan (Kanazawa City) (map D2)

F E S T I VA L S

Excitement and energy

Festivals that have been passed down through the generations
since ancient times are still celebrated as important events.

In the kiriko festival, which is unique to the Noto Peninsula, hugekiriko lanterns are paraded around town to the sounds of vigorous
chanting. During the period from July to September, kiriko
festivals are held in more than 100 communities.

Seihaku-sai Festival (Nanao City) (map E2)

Gojinjo Daiko drumming performance (Wajima City) (map E3)

A large float in Ushitsu Festival (Noto-cho) (map E1)

Two of Ishikawa's most famous spring festivals are Seihakusai Festival, which boasts of Japan's largest float, and Otabi

Festival, which features children's performances of kabuki plays
on gorgeous floats decorated with lacquer, gold leaf and carvings.
The Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival celebrates Maeda Toshiie's
taking over of Kanazawa Castle, and its highlight is a magnificent
samurai parade. The energetic Gojinjo Daiko masked drummers,
who perform to scare away demons, have been designated as anintangible folk cultural asset by Ishikawa Prefecture.

Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival (Kanazawa City) (map E4)

Yukidaruma Snowman Festival (Hakusan City) (map G10)

Mitsuke-jima Island, "Warship Island" (Suzu City) (map F1)

Senmaida Rice Terrace (Wajima City) (map F2)

T

he art ofNoto Kongo rock formation (Shika Town) (map F4)

Yase Cliff (Shika Town) (map F3)

N AT U R E

natureUba-ga-taki (Hakusan City) (map F5)

Because Ishikawa has a peninsula that juts out
into the Sea of Japan, it is a prefecture wherechanges in nature in both seaside and mountain areas
can be enjoyed. Mount Hakusan, now a nationalpark, is one of the three most famous mountains
in Japan, and the place of origin of the Hakusan

Mt. Hakusan (map F6)

religious faith. There are also quasi-national parks
along the coastlines of Kaga and Noto.
The mountainous area of Ishikawa Prefectureis densely forested, and dotted with beautiful
waterfalls and gorges. The coastline also has amazing
attractions, which include unusually shaped rocks
and reefs that have been formed naturally over theyears, as well as the only beach in Japan on which

Koorogi bridge in Kakusen-kei Gorge (Kaga City) (map F7)

you can drive your car along the water's edge.
And last but not least, when you visit Ishikawa,
you will experience the lives and warmth of thepeople who live in harmony with nature, in bothmountain and seaside villages.

Mt. Hakusan and Shibayama Lagoon (Kaga City) (map F8)

aam
To yToKanazawa CityTourism Association

Nakajima-OhashiBridgeTsuzumi-mon Gate

Asanogawa River

Kanazawa
Hyakubangai
Shopping District

iwa

B20

Right Loop Bus Stops
Shoei-bashi
Bridge0Hikoso-Ohashi
BridgeMotenashi
Dome

123B41Ishikawa
Ongakudo Hall

24Kobashi
BridgeSakudaGold and Silver
Leaf Shop

Rifare Bld.

Kanazawa Loop Bus. Kanazawa International
Exchange Foundation. Ishikawa Foundation forInternational Exchange

One time
Adults: ¥200
Children: ¥100

Kazuemachi
Chaya District

Asanogawa- 11ohashi
BridgeNakano-hashi Bridge

16

One-day pass
Adults: ¥500
Children: ¥250
Service Hours
8:36-18:00(Every 15 min)

1Ishikawa
ConfectionaryCulture CenterC310

Naga-machi Buke
Yuzen-kan Studio
Mikage-ohashi
BridgeNaga-machi Buke
Yashiki District

Turret /Oyama Jinja Hishi-yagura
Gojikken Nagaya Warehouse /Shrine
Hashizume-mon Turret

D4 G7

14Nagamachi
Park
Kanazawa Shinise
Kinenkan
Memorial Hall
Korinbo

5GardenIshiuraShrineSeisonkaku Villa C2

Ishikawa PrefecturalMuseum of Art

B1

D5

Honda Museum
Great People
Ishikawa Pref.
7of Kanazawa
Library
Memorial Museum 10
D5

Ishikawa Prefectural Museum for
Traditional Products and Crafts

Ishikawa
Noh Theater

Shopping Areawaku

ShrineOns enD.T. Suzuki Ishikawa Prefectural
History Museum
MuseumLegendKanazawa
UniversityHospital

A4B5

Kanazawa-naka
Police Station

Uni ver sity

Yu

12. Ishikawa InternationalSalon. Ishikawa InternationalLounge

To Kanaza wa

D2 Kenroku-en

9The 21st Century
Museum ofContemporary Art,
Kanazawa

8Local Products Nishida
Shop
Family Garden
Gyokusen-en
Kenroku-en
Infomation Center
Kaga Yuzen Traditional
Industrial CenterTo

A298

Kanazawa City Hall

413

Saigawaohashi
BridgeUmeno-hashi Bridge

Ohi Pottery
MuseumKanazawa
Hyakumangoku Festival

D1 E4IshikawaNagaya
Modern Japanese Sanjukken
WarehouseLiterature
ShiinokiMuseumCultural Complex,
Central Ishikawa
ParkPrefecture3

Nomura-ke House

Saigawa RiverDistrict

67Kanazawa
Castle Park D3▼NishiChaya
District

Taxi stand
11City office

6

Police box

Myoryuji Temple(Ninja Temple)y/ple met r
Te m C eoji ily
Daij Fam
To a e d aM

Kanazawa Station
East Exit 3
1 Musashigatsuji
Omi-cho Market
2 Minami-cho
Oyama Jinja Shrine
3 korinbo(ATRIO-mae)
4 Kita-machi
5 Hirokoji
6 Sakura Bashi
7 Honda-machi(Kanazawa Kagekiza-mae)
8 Hirosaka-21stCentury Museum
9 Kenroku-en Garden
Kanazawa Castle
10 Hashiba-cho(Kinjoro-mukai)
11 Higashi Chaya District
12 Kobashi-machi

A1 Higashi Chaya

Tenjin-bashii
BridgeIshikawa-monGate

20G6OzakiShrine

15

Left Loop Bus Stops

5A3Omi-cho
MarketTamagawa Park

Kanazawa Station
East Exit 3
1 Meisei
Shogakkou-mae
2 Kobashi
3 Baba Child Park
4 Moriyama 1 chome
5 Hashiba–cho(koban-mae)
6 Hashiba–cho(kinjoro-mae)
7 Kenrokumoto-machi
8 Kenroku-en Garden
Kanazawa Castle Park
9 Hirosaka(Ishiura Jinja-mae)
10 Honda-machi(Hokuriku Hoso-mae)
11 Muro Saisei Bungakuhi
12 Jusangen-machi
13 Kata-machi
14 Korinbo(Nichigin-mae)
15 Minami-cho
Oyama Jinja Shrine
16 Musashigatsuji
Omi-cho Market0

▼

▼an a

Hokutetsu
Asanogawa Line
Kanazawa Sta.

Ishikawa Prefecture
Kanazawa
Tourist Infomation Center
JR Kanazawa Sta.

To K

K ANAZAWA CITY CENTER MAP▼▼To& K Prefan a e c t uza w r ala P O f f ic
or t e▼Sightseeing spot
0200

400600800

Public Facility1000(m)Onsen (Hot Springs)

Ishikawa Prefecture is blessed with an abundance of Onsen, from large-scale resorts toquaint small spas in the mountains, each with its own special attributes and ambiance.
KOMATSU AIRPORT

Discovered mostly about 1,300 years ago, Ishikawa's Onsen are famous throughout Japan

KOMATSU I.Cfor their historic significance and their healing qualities. So when visiting Ishikawa for

KATAYAMAZU I.C Shibayama

its many wonderful attributes and attractions, why not pamper yourself with a relaxing

KAGA ONSEN Sta.

stopover in a soothing spa?

LagoonF8KagaFruit Land
KAGA I.C

Wajima Onsen

0768-22-6588

http://www.wajimaonsen.com/

Wakura Onsen

0767-62-1555

http://www.wakura.or.jp/

Yuwaku Onsen

076-235-1040

http://www.yuwaku.gr.jp/

Tatsunokuchi Onsen

0761-55-8509

http://www.city.nomi.ishikawa.jp/

Awazu Onsen

0761-65-1834

http://www.awazuonsen.com/

Katayamazu Onsen

0761-74-1123

http://www.katayamazu-spa.or.jp/

Yamashiro Onsen

0761-77-1144

http://www.yamashiro-spa.or.jp/

Yamanaka Onsen

0761-78-0330

http://www.yamanaka-spa.or.jp/

Tojinbo

C1

To Kyoto
and Osaka

KutaniyakiMuseum of Art

D8

NataderaTemple

To Awara

R364

F7

Kakusen-keiGorge
To Eiheiji

NOTO
Rokkozaki“Lighthouse”

Oku-Noto
Salt FarmVillage G1
Senmaida
Rice Terrace

Gojinjo Daikodrumming
performance

WajimaFuratto Homu

Wajima Urushi
Art Museum

Oku-Noto Salt Farm Village (map G1)

E3

F2

Wajima MorningG2
MarketR249

F1

Mitsuke-jimaIslandUshitsu Festival

R249

NOTO AIRPORT

E1

Wajima Morning Market (map G2)

D6

Sojiji Temple
Yase Cliff F3
Notojima

Aquarium
Noto
Railway
G3

Notojima Aquarium (map G3 )B3 Notojima

F4

Noto Kongo
rock formation

WAKURAONSEN Sta.
E2
JR Nanao LineGlass Art
MuseumSeihaku-sai
FestivalNANAO Sta.

Chirihama Beach Driveway (map G4)

R160

Keta Taisha
ShrineKANAZAWA

R159

Ouchigata
LagoonChirihama Beach G4
Driveway

HIMI KITA I.C
HIMI I.C

R159

HIMI Sta.

By Plane
Komatsu - Seoul
Komatsu - Shanghai
TAKAOKA Sta.
To Tokyo Komatsu - Taipei
Komatsu - Narita
Komatsu - Tokyo (Haneda)
Noto - Tokyo (Haneda)

To Takaoka
R471

Noto Satoyama Kaido Freeway

Hokuriku Shinkansen
Kahokugata
LagoonHokuriku Expressway

Getting to and from Ishikawa

JR Hokuriku Line

KANAZAWA Sta.

To KANAZAWA CITY
CENTER MAP

KANAZAWA NISHI I.C
MATTO Sta.
R157

Tokai Hokuriku Expressway

E5Shirayama HimeShrine
D7World Heritage Site,Gokayama

Sky Shishiku
Ski Resort

KOMATSUSta.

Kanazawa
SeymourSki Resort

Otabi
Festival
G8 Traditional

G10To Katsuyama

0246

SHIRAKAWA-GO I.C

F5Uba-ga-taki
Waterfall

Yukidaruma
SnowmanFestivalF6

3:47 h4:12 h2:03 h2:30 h2:27 h3:22 hBy BusKanazawa - Takayama
Kanazawa - Shirakawago

2:10 h1:15 h

Sakuda Gold and Silver Leaf Shop (map G6 )Naga-machi Buke Yashiki District(map G7 )KAGAHokuriku Shinkansen
World Heritage Site,
Shirakawa-go

G9R416

By TrainKanazawa - Tokyo (via Echigo-Yuzawa)
Kanazawa - Tokyo (via Maibara)
Kanazawa - Kyoto
Kanazawa - Osaka
Kanazawa - Nagoya
Kanazawa - Kansai International Airport

Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art (map G5 )GOKAYAMA I.CHakusan
Ichirino Onsen
Ski Resort

Handicrafts Village"Yunokuni-no-mori"1:40 h2:20 h
3:00 h
1: 10 h1:00 h
1:00 hHakusan
Shirakawa-go White Road

Mt. Hakusan

From Tokyo to Kanazawa
Travel time: 2h 28min (minimum)Traditional Handicrafts Village"Yunokuni-no-mori" (map G8 )The Hokuriku Shinkansen line opens spring
March, 14, 2015.

Hakusan Ichirino Hot Spring Ski Resort(map G9 )8 10(km)
Yukidaruma Snowman Festival (map G10 )